Adam Jones and James Hook left out of Wales squad

Prop Adam Jones and outhalf James Hook have both been left out of a 34-man Wales squad for next month's Tests against Australia, Fiji, New Zealand and South Africa.

The Welsh Rugby Union has announced a group that includes one uncapped player – 20-year-old Ospreys prop Nicky Smith – with flanker Sam Warburton confirmed as captain.

Cardiff Blues forward Jones and Gloucester back Hook have more than 170 caps between them, but can find no place in Wales head coach Warren Gatland’s squad.

Jones, 33, has won 95 Wales caps and played in five Tests for the British and Irish Lions. He joined Cardiff Blues from the Ospreys earlier this year.

Hook, 29, is also a Lion and has played in a number of positions behind the scrum for Wales, but both have failed to make Gatland’s cut for a demanding series of games less than a year out from the Rugby World Cup.

Smith is among six props named in the squad – Gethin Jenkins, Paul James, Samson Lee, Aaron Jarvis and Rhodri Jones are the others – with Hook’s versatility not enough to catch Gatland’s eye.

There is a recall for Wasps lock Bradley Davies, who has been in outstanding form this season, with Wales’ France-based players Leigh Halfpenny, Jonathan Davies, Jamie Roberts, Mike Phillips, Luke Charteris and Dan Lydiate also taking their places, as expected.

Others to miss out, though, include fleet-footed Ospreys wing Eli Walker, Cardiff Blues hooker Matthew Rees and his Blues colleague, outhalf Rhys Patchell.

“We are really happy with the squad,” Gatland said.

“There is a lot of experience that has come back in, 12 players who were injured in the summer and didn’t tour South Africa. They are back and fit and we have a couple of exciting youngsters as well.

“Nicky Smith has been playing exceptionally well for the Ospreys. We have been impressed with him and it’s a great opportunity.

“When you look through the squad there is a huge amount of experience. ”We’ve taken a lot of things into account and made some tough decisions.

“We’ve had to weigh up a balance of players who play in Wales and outside, due to how often they can train and are with us, but we are really happy with the squad.”

Speaking during a press conference at the Wales team training base, Gatland reiterated that the selection door was not closed for either Jones or Gloucester playmaker Hook.

“It is important that he (Jones) keeps working on his game, and we have had that conversation with him,” Gatland said.

“There are other aspects of his game, particularly around the field, that we want him to keep working on and improving. Definitely, the door is not closed for Adam Jones or James Hook, going forward.

“The game never stays still. With the scrummaging rule changes, that put a lot of pressure on tightheads. It probably dropped the value of tightheads by half overnight.

“What has become paramount in the game is the ability of frontrows to be more mobile and get around the park. We have had that conversation with Adam, and it is something he is working on and will continue to work on.

“We decided we were only going to pick two 10s in the squad, and there is always that balance between the players who are playing in Wales and those who are playing outside of Wales and not having them fully in camp.

“There is always that risk that if you are playing outside of Wales it is potentially going to make it sometimes difficult for you to get selected. The door is not closed on James.”

WALES SQUAD

Backs: L Williams (Scarlets), L Halfpenny (Toulon), T Prydie (Newport Gwent Dragons), G North (Northampton), A Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues), H Amos (Newport Gwent Dragons), S Williams (Scarlets), J Davies (Clermont Auvergne), J Roberts (Racing Metro), C Allen (Cardiff Blues), R Priestland (Scarlets), D Biggar (Ospreys), M Phillips (Racing Metro), R Webb (Ospreys), R Williams (Scarlets).

Forwards: G Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), P James (Bath), N Smith (Ospreys), A Jarvis (Ospreys), S Lee (Scarlets), R Jones (Scarlets), R Hibbard (Gloucester), E Phillips (Scarlets), S Baldwin (Ospreys), A-W Jones (Ospreys), J Ball (Scarlets), B Davies (Wasps), L Charteris (Racing Metro), D Lydiate (Racing Metro), J King (Ospreys), S Warburton (Cardiff Blues, capt), J Tipuric (Ospreys), D Baker (Ospreys), T Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons).